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São Paulo is the capital of the state which bears the same name.
It is the largest city in Brazil with over 20 million people inhabiting the metropolitan area.
Partly because of this, the city presents difficulties in gaining rides to the place you want to go. To make life easier you may be able to get buses out of the city but trains are generally a cheaper option then using a local bus in that locality to locate the freeways and the petrol stations. Paulistas aren't the most open people to hitchhikers indeed in Brazil it's not too common. Truck drivers are generally a better bunch to ask and will be usually going further in terms of distance.

There are generally 2 freeways that head in principle directions due to the large volumes of traffic.
The state of São Paulo has over 40 million inhabitants and statistically responsible for around 40% of the country's GDP.

Hitchhiking out

Nortwest and North towards Interior of São Paulo State, Goiania and Brasilia

Make your way to Jundiai by train. From the centre of Sao Paulo go to Luz Station and get the A train. The fare is around R$ 2.60
Once you get to Jundiai station you will need to walk or get a bus through the city to either one of the Rodovias Anchieta or Bandeirantes. Their is a posto de gasolina and truck stop a little north of the city on the Rodovia Anchieta. Lunchtime is good to find a caminhoneiro (truck driver) if not there are always truckdrivers trying to fix their trucks. Have a map on you so you familiarise yourself with the many cities in the area when asking for lifts.

"I waited a long time at one petrol station because I was lazy and couldn't be bothered asking people. I did find a ride after two hours to Campinas which left me having to do the same thing again at another Petrol Station. I let a few rides go because many motorists didn't know the town i wanted to go to even though it was on their way" - The author and hitch-hiker

There again exist two freeways (rodovías) out of São Paulo in the direction of Rio de Janeiro. One is Presidente Dutra (BR116) which passes close to the airport near Guarulhos and along here there are many posto de gasolina. For something different head to the ceasa (truck depot) in Guarulhos. From here its possible to get a truck anywhere in Brazil, the size of the place is overwhelming at first.

"I had to sleep in the Ceasa waiting for the one truck going to the Bolivian border but the truckies looked after us and we had free showers and food" - two anonymous hitchiking friends

Well - you take a city bus from the main bus station direction to Embu - actually the bus is going to Itapecerica da Serra and costs about 5,5 reais (less than 2 rides with normal bus inside of the city of São Paulo) and you ask the driver to let you out on BR116,where it will be possible to hitchhike - it's just before he turns to Itapecerica da Serra. The drive with a bus is about 1,5 hours through all the São Paulo - as its the one of the biggest cities on the world and to get to some place normal to catch a ride its bit complicated. Do not get out on Embu yet (it looks bit favelado over there). Close to the trevo - crossroads of leaving the bus going to Itapecerica (turning out from highway) is a gas station. It's about 200 meters further on the road where you can ask the people where they are going. Lot of trucks are stopping there as well. -- Suzann